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Matte Painting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Company3

Production Coordinator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Previous experience in Entertainment/Film/Arts. * Episodic or Feature Finishing Post-Production ... matte painting, compositing, dailies and production services, color grading, post-production ...

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Matte Painting Artist information

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$9

$24

$40

How much do matte painting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for matte painting artist in the United States is $24.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges Matte Painting Artists face when working on film or game projects?

Matte Painting Artists often face the challenge of matching their digital environments seamlessly with live-action footage or 3D assets, which requires a keen eye for detail and consistency. They must frequently adapt to changes in project direction, tight deadlines, or evolving creative feedback from directors and supervisors. Collaboration with VFX teams, lighting artists, and compositors is a common part of the job, as is problem-solving to achieve photorealistic results within technical constraints. Overcoming these challenges helps artists grow their skills and contributes to delivering high-quality visual storytelling.

What is a Matte Painting Artist job?

A Matte Painting Artist creates realistic or stylized digital backgrounds and environments for films, TV shows, and video games. They blend 2D and 3D elements, often incorporating painted textures and photographic references to extend sets or create landscapes that would be difficult or expensive to build physically. These artists work closely with VFX teams, compositors, and art directors to ensure seamless integration of their work into the final scene. Their expertise lies in perspective, lighting, and atmosphere to enhance storytelling and visual impact.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Matte Painting Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Matte Painting Artist, you need strong skills in digital painting, photo manipulation, and a solid understanding of perspective, color, and composition, often backed by a degree in fine arts or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Maya, and Nuke is essential, with some studios valuing certifications or a robust professional portfolio. Attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication are key soft skills for collaboration and delivering visually compelling environments. These skills collectively enable Matte Painting Artists to create realistic, immersive backgrounds that seamlessly enhance films, games, or other media productions.

More about Matte Painting Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Matte Painting Artist jobs? Cities with the most Matte Painting Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Matte Painting Artist jobs? The most popular types of Matte Painting Artist jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Matte Painting Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Matte Painting Artist jobs are:
Matte Painting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Matte Painting Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,263 per year, or $24.6 per hour.

Freelance: Digital Matte Painting - USA

Framestore

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$25 - $100/hr

Temporary

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Framestore Integrated Advertising are always on the look-out for exceptional DMP talent. If you are a freelancer who would be interested in being kept on our books for future freelancing opportunities in our US based offices, please submit your details to us - we would love to hear from you!
Digital Matte Painters are responsible for painting photo real environments, elements and textures for matching into live action plates or to stand on their own as DMP plates. Digital matte paintings may also be used in a 3D environment and may be mapped onto 3D objects.
A strong understanding and sympathy for real world materials and lighting is essential. DMP artists will work closely with the Modeling and Shading departments and therefore must have a basic knowledge of the practices of each of these disciplines.
Our freelance opportunities will always be advertised on our website and we will get in touch with people who have submitted their details as and when opportunities arise. There is no need to apply here more than once - once you're in then you're in and you will be on our radar! In fact, the people who submit here will be our first point of call when we're looking.
So if you want to freelance on some of the most exciting and challenging advertising work out there then you know what to do - hit that 'apply' button right now!
  • Previous experience in a similar role
  • Proficient in Photoshop and Nuke
  • Working knowledge of Maya and Mari are a plus
  • Previous experience working in a Linux environment
  • Strong artistic skills
  • Experience with 2.5 D
  • A good understanding of the entire visual effects process
  • Strong knowledge of camera focal lengths, a good sense of composition and an understanding of different out-put requirements
  • Experience with creating original concept designs
  • Creative problem solving skills

California and New York Employees Pay Range:
Juniors (<1 year - 3 years experience): $25 - $35 per hour
Mids (4 - 6 years experience): $400 - $550 per day
Seniors (6+ years of experience): $600 - $900 per day
The posted range describes the minimum to maximum range for this job description in the state of New York and California. The range is posted in accordance with the New York Pay Transparency Bill and the California Pay Transparency Law. The range for this same position may be lower or higher in markets outside of New York or California. Pay is dependent on the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.
Application Process
To apply, please complete the following application form
We review all applications manually and do not use artificial intelligence to screen candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let us know-we are happy to accommodate your needs.

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